Did you know that there is one person diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes every 2 seconds? This year we want to help Diabetes UK #RewriteTheStory so people are aware of the signs and symptoms to look out for this #WorldDiabetesDay

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a medical condition that affects a hormone named insulin and results in patient glucose levels being higher than normal. It can lead to various medical conditions such as nerve & retina damage, dehydration and in more serious cases kidney disease, stroke or heart attack.

Know Your Risk

When thinking of the common symptoms of Diabetes, always remember about the 4T’s:

• Toilet – Needing the toilet more frequently
• Thirsty – Not being able to quench thirst
• Tired – Always exhausted and having no energy
• Thinner – Losing weight without trying to

Type 2 diabetes has a number of other risk factors such as:

• Smoking or Alcohol intake
• High blood pressure
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Family history
• Age

Find out your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes by completing a short quiz on the Diabetes UK website, here.

The Role Nurses can play in helping to manage Diabetes

• A Diabetes Specialist Nurse (DSN) – A Nurse with specialist training in Diabetes will regularly check blood sugar levels and adjust medication. Their main goal is to help patients adapt diabetes into their life. They are also often the person who will organise other specialists they may need to see.

If you require more information on the signs and symptoms of Diabetes, treatment and how to live with the condition ensure to visit www.diabetes.org.uk

If you are interested in learning more about our Nursing roles in this area, please contact us on 028 9059 0077 to discuss job opportunities further.